What Amazon Did This Week: Philanthropy, Business Strategy And Christmas Trees

#WADTW is the regular post that looks at everyone's favorite behemoth, Amazon, from a variety of angles from specific moves, acquisitions, fringe/subsidiary activities, new patents, partnerships and beyond over the last seven days. The aim? Be your one-stop-shop on Amazon every Sunday. Did I miss something? Email or drop me a line via Twitter

NUTSHELL: A somewhat quiet week for Amazon (compared to previous weeks). The major story was the $2 billion fund that Bezos promised to launch for the education of disadvantaged young people. The "Bezos Day One Fund" will focus on two areas: helping "existing nonprofits that help homeless families" and funding "a network of new, nonprofit, tier-one preschools in low-income communities. Far less than other Billionaires but nothing to sniff at. More speculation around the next HQ circulated (to no avail) and the same reputation issues from previous weeks repeated but with smaller news cycles. David J Carr's 'Map of Amazon and Modern Marketing' is a must-read for any marketer or business lead interested in Amazon.

RETAIL (.com, ads, Prime, books, GO, Whole Foods)

Amazon has almost put $5billion into India to chase off Walmart competitor. /// SOUQ launched an Amazon store with over 1 million products. /// Amazon will sell Christmas trees this year in the US. /// Amazon has created a $10 billion business supplies business. /// Amazon is now in the oil business. /// Amazon is seeking new products from Sellers. /// Party City has created an Amazon store for Halloween. ///

CONTENT (Prime Video, Music, Audible, TWITCH, Goodreads, Ads...)

Amazon wants to partner with big channels for content. /// IMAX is in discussions with Amazon to show its content in their theatres. /// Game of Thrones writer, Bryan Cogman, has signed a deal with Amazon. ///

TECH (Alexa, Dash, AWS, Kindle...)

Microsoft is coming for Amazon's biggest growth area (AWS). /// Mapillary is partnering with Amazon and using the controversial 'Rekognition' to solve urban parking. ///

MISCELLANEOUS (Pharma, Space...)

More speculation around Amazon entering the Cryptocurrency world (nothing imminent). /// Amazon may have their own version of Coke's 'Sugar Tax' if the 'Cardboard Tax' becomes a reality in the UK. /// Amazon will headline a major air force conference. /// Amazon has enabled voice donations for Hurricane Florence. /// Amazon has said it will announce where the next $5bn HQ will be by the end of 2018. ///